Handrails for passenger conveyors

ABSTRACT

Handrail suitable for use with a passenger conveyor having a treadway which is moved at a speed which is variable along its path. The handrail comprises a helical coil which is covered on part of its lateral portion throughout its length by a sheath, consisting of a corrugated booting or overlapping tube lengths. Driving means comprising a plurality of wheels distributed along the path impress a variable speed to the handrail.

United States Patent 1191 Colombot 1 1 HANDRAILS FOR PASSENGER CONVEYORS[75] Inventor: Pierre Colombot,

Saint-Michel-sur-Orge, France [73] Assignee: Agence Nationale DeValorisation De 7 La Recherche(Anvar), Courbevoie,

France 221 Filed: Feb. 23, 1972 121 Appl.No.:228,693-

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 26, 1971 France 71.06793[52] US. Cl. 104/25, 198/16 MS, 198/110 [51] Int. Cl B66b 9/14 [58]Field of Search 104/18, 20, 25, 167;

198/110,16-MS,16 R, 17, 18

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Masek .l 198/16 R 1 Mar.12, 1974 6/1972 Angiolctti e1 a1. ..19s/110 2/1973 Zuppiger ..104 25FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 567,503 3/1924 France 104/25 PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Robert Saifer Attorney,Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor & Hinds 57 ABSTRACT Handrail suitable foruse with a passenger conveyor having a treadway which is moved at aspeed which is variable along its path. The handrail comprises a helicalcoilwhich is covered on partof its lateral portion throughout its lengthby a sheath, consisting of a corrugated booting or overlapping tubelengths. Driving means comprising a plurality of wheels distributedalong the path impress a variable speed to the handrail. I

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 12 1974 SHEEI 1 BF 5 Pmmmm 121974 3796'. 161

SHEEI 2 0F 5 PATENTEU m 12 I974 sum 3 BF 5 PATENTEBMR'IZW 3396.161

SHEET S 0? 5 HANDRAILS FOR PASSENGER CONVEYORS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The invention relates to handrails suitable for use withpassenger conveyors of the type known as moving walks adapted formovement at variable speed. Such moving walks have a relatively lowspeed in an entrance zone and in an exit zone for the passengers to goin and out without difficulty and move faster in an intermediate zone.In other words, the path of such a moving walk comprises parts where thespeed is uniform and slow, parts in which the speed is uniform and 'highand intermediate parts in which the conveyor acsive coils being constantalong the complete path of the handrail. Such handrails were however foruse in constant speed conveyors or escalators only and not adapted forcombination with variable speed conveyors of the moving walk type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide ahandrail suitable for use with a variable speed conveyor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a handrail whose speedis controllably variable along the path thereof, for co-operation with avariable speed passenger conveyor.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a handrailwhose speed along its-path may be controlled for the speed at eachlocation along the path to be close to the speed of the conveyor at thesame locatron.

For this purpose, the handrail comprises a coilspring, means for guidingthe spring along a closed loop with one run of the loop paralleling partat least of the path of a passenger conveyor. The spring is covered onits complete length, but on part only of its circumferential surface bya sheath providing a substantially smooth surface. Supporting andguiding means'project from some at least of the coils of the springthrough the circumferential portion which is not covered by the sheathand co-operate with at least one guide-track. Driving means aredistributed along the path and drive the coils at a speed which isvariable along the path.

Further objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description of illustrative embodiments of the invention givenby way of examples only. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description refers to theaccompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a side-view, partly insection,of a handrail structure according to a first embodiment of theinventron.

FIG. 2 is a section on line IIII of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a isometric viewillustrating a detail of FIG. 1. Y I

FIG. 4 is a sketchof a driving mechanism for moving the handrail of FIG.1.

FIG-5 is a isometric view schematically illustrating a portion of ahandrail structure according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side-view which shows the spring of the handrailof FIG. 5 in two different conditions and the corresponding conditionsof the driving mechanism (the two portions being drawn on differentscales for more clarity).

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 5, illustrating the connectionbetween the chain which drives the handrail and one coil of the spring.

FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 6, illustrating adetail.

FIG. 9 is a schematic section on the line IXIX of FIG. 6, illustratingthe co-operation between a driving wheel and the chain of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, thereis shown a handrail suitable for use with a continuous passengerconveyor whose speed is variable along its path. Although any type ofvariable speed conveyor may be associated with the handrail, theconveyor is preferably of the type described and claimed in French Pat.No. 68 41465 filed Dec. 2, 1969 in the name of Pierre COLOMBOT. In sucha conveyor, a handrail having a speed which is close to the speed of thecorresponding zone of the conveyor is practically necessary. It shouldbe noted that this does not mean that the speeds of the conveyor andhandrail are preferably identical in a same section. Although theidentity is preferable in the zones where the conveyor moves at constantspeed, the inventor has found that it may be preferable to move thehandrail at a speed slightly in excess of that of the conveyor in thoseportions of the path where the conveyor accelerates or decelerates. Thiscauses the passengers to move and walk slowly, thereby improving theirbalance and substantially decreasing the risk of tumbles.

Referring again to FIG. 1, there is shown a handrail comprising acoil-spring 1 whose axis is guided along an arcuate path constituting aloop having an upper run parallel with the moving walk of the conveyor,located at an appropriate place for the passengers to rest their hands.The down-run constitutes a return path.

A sheath is located on the spring for providing a relatively smoothsurface on the complete length of the loop, but on part only of thecircumferential surface of the spring. More precisely, the sheath coversan angular portion of the cross-section which is higher than butgenerally lower than 300. The sheath of FIG. 2 consists of bellows orbooting whose successive folds contact successive coils of the spring.

In a modified embodiment (not shown), the constrictions of the bellowscontact or rest on coils which are separated by one or more free coils.However, care should be taken to provide a sufficient support for thesheath for preventing the projecting portions thereof from shiftingtransversally if and when a passenger exerts a transversal force on thesheath.

Guiding means are provided for retaining the spring along its path andreceiving the external forces which are exerted in a directiontransverse of the path.

Referring to FIG. 2, two parallel tracks are located along the coils andconfront that portion of the coils which is not covered by the sheath.Each track 5 slidably receives a guiding pad secured to a correspondingturn. Each turn may be provided with a pad or a predetermined proportionof the turns only may have such pads. It should be noted that two tracksare necessary in most cases in order to prevent the handrail fromdefleeting towards the outside. More than two tracks can obviously beused, but this is of no advantage in most cases.

A driving mechanism is located along the coil for driving it at avariable speed, which is close to that of the conveyor at the samelocation. The driving mechanism may be of the type which will later bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 6 9. However, the mechanism of FIGS. 2and 4 may also be used, but the movement of the handrail when driven bysuch a mechanism is with jerks which are removed when using the morecomplex and sophisticated system of FIG. 6.

As an example it may be indicated that the outer diameter of the coilspring will generally be between 50 mm and about 200 mm. The metal wirewhich is used for constituting the coils should be of such a grade as totolerate the amounts of stretching and compression which are involvedfor adjustment of the speed. A number of available alloys may be usedfor that purpose when the ratio between the maximum length of the. pitchin the extreme stretched condition and the compressed condition (forwhich the coils may be closely packed) is about 6 l. The diameter of thewire will generally be from 3 mm to 10mm.

In the embodiment illustrated on FIG. 3, the folds have a shape which isclosely similar to that of a tyre. The two rims of the folds are securedto the rims of adjacent folds. The bellows can be constituted coilspring adjacent to the of any material having a sufficient flexibilityand resistance, such as leather, rubberized canvas, etc. While each foldis of roughly half-circular shape in the embodiment of FIG. 3, an axialcrosssection of different shape can be used, for instance with adepressed portion in the mid-plane.

As shown on FIG. 3, the tyre-like folds are secured to the respectiveturns by tabs 6 formed along the rims and which are folded over theturns and bonded to the roots of the tabs. The tabs 6 are so cut that anaperture remains available for the tabs or an adjacent element in thespace between two successive tabs of a same tyre-like element. -As aconsequence, two adjacent elements may be secured to the same turn.

As shown on FIG. 2, the sheath extends on three quarters of thecircumferential surface of the spring and a free space of about 90 isreserved.

As shown on FIG. 2, the handrail would be associated with a moving walklocated in the left bottom corner of the Figure.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, some at least of the coils are secured tosupporting members 4 consisting of sliding pads. The pads have a sizesuch that they are slidably received in the inner passage of a guidingtrack 5. Two parallel guiding tracks are provided, each consisting of ametal rail having a U shaped cross-section. The two legs of the U areoffset or curved towards each other so as to be parallel to the lowerportion of the U, while reserving a slot through which the rod of thepad projects. The sliding portion of each pad is formed or coated with amaterial having a low coefficient of friction. An example of suchmaterial is polytetrafluorethylene, currently designated as TEFLON. Thepads may be replaced with ball or roller bearings.

The two supporting members of the spring illustrated on FIG. 2 areseparated by an angle of about Larger or smaller angles may be used. Itis even possible to retain a single supporting element for each coil.Under particular conditions, a single track 5 may be used, but in mostcases a single track does not provide a sufficient resistance to flexurein the transversal direction. Under actual conditions, it is generallysufficient to guide one coil for each five or 10 coils (i.e. each fifthor 10th turns).

The mechanism for driving the handrail which is illustrated on FIG. 2consists of a plurality of toothed wheels. Each toothed wheel is securedon a rotatable shaft 8a driven by motor means (not shown). The teeth 8bmesh with successive coils of the spring.

In order to move each portion of the spring at a speed which is close tothat of the conveyor at the same location, the number of teeth per wheeland the wheel diameter at each location are so selected that each wheeldelivers the same number of coils per time unit, the coils being howeverin a state of compression which depends on the speed which is impressedto the handrail.

Referring to FIG. 4, there are schematically shown three separatetoothed wheels 81, 82, 83 having different numbers of teeth anddifferent speeds and retaining the spring in different conditions ofcompression. As a consequence, the speeds of the handrail at the threecorresponding locations are different. The sheath is adapted tocompensate for such'different compressions of the spring.

In the portions of the path where the speed is being modified, eachwheel which has characteristics different from those of the next wheelor previous wheel exerts on the spring a force which results in a jerk.This jerk may be attenuated by increasing the number of wheels per unitlength, the successive wheels corresponding to speeds which are closerto each other. However, additional means are preferably associated withthehandrail for reducing the jerks and steadying the movement. In theembodiment of FIG. 2, such means comprise friction shoes 10 carried bysome at least of the coil. In the portions of the path where thehandrail accelerates or decelerates, the shoes frictionally engage astationary rail 11 which is located in parallel relation with thecoil-spring.

The shoes and stationary rail constitute a brake whose friction forcemay be adjusted by modifying the distance from the friction surface'ofthe rail to the axis of the spring. The friction force is adjusted forobtaining the smoothest possible variations. The friction brake mayobviously be substituted with other types of brake, for instance with aeddy-current brake.

It should be noted that it is not always a advantage to impress a speedto the handrail which is identical to that of the conveyor at a samelocation. In the portions of the path where the conveyor accelerates ordecelerates it may be preferable to move the handrail at a speedslightly in excess of that of the conveyor. The speed difference is anincitationfor the passengers to walk slightly, thereby their stabilityon the conveyor is increased.

Handles 12 are spaced along the handrail for providing a rest which ismore comfortable that the folds of the sheath. Such handles have a shapesuch that it is not possible to hang objects, thereby removing the riskof accidents at the end of the path. The intervals between the handlesare so selected that there remains about 40 cm. (1 ft. 4 in.) at thelocations where the handrail is in its most compressed condition. Withsuch a design, the minimum interval which remains between successivepassengers resting on the handles is 40 cm and an interval is retainedin the higher speed portions on the path such that the passengers do notpack into a crowd in the exit portion.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 9, there is shown a modified embodiment of theinvention in which the sheath does not consist any longer of successivefolds. The portion of handrail illustrated on FIG. 5 again comprises acoil-spring 11. On FIG. 5, the spring is illustrated in partiallyextended condition, the successive coils or turns of the spring being soarranged that they do not come into abutment before the handrail attainsits minimum speed. The spring is so designed that its successive turnsare separated by a pitch which may be adjusted between a minimum value(for which the successive turns may be closely packed) and a maximumvalue which is acceptable by the material of the spring. For currentuses, a variation of the pitch in a ratio of 1 6 may be accepted and iscompatible with the resiliency of currently available spring steels.

The sheath 12 of the handrail of FIG. 5 consists of successive tubelengths, two of which have been indicated and numbered 13a and 13b. Eachtube length has an open-cylinder shape, having an annular developmenthigher than 180. Each tube length is formed of resilient material,previously shaped into an arcuate .tube having a diameter slightlysmaller than that of the helical spring 11 in rest condition. As aresult, each tube length is 'forceably applied on the spring. Examplesof suitable materials are arcuate stripsof steel or flexible materialsuch as rubberized canvas or plastics. The thickness of the material maybe about 1 mm or less when steel is used.

Each tube length illustrated on FIG. 5 is secured to a respective turnof the coil spring 11 by fingers l4 folded back over the turns. In'fact, successive tube lengths will generally be secured to turns whichare separated by one or more intermediate turns, contrary to thearrangement illustrated on FIG. 5 for more simplicity. This is becausethe fingers tend to retain the turns on which they are secured in aplane which has an invariableangular position with respect to the axis,while this angular position is modified when the pitch of the spring isadjusted. The provision of free turns which can distort between theconnected turns makes it possible to prevent the tube lengths fromdistorting in their end portions connected to the spring.

The end portion of each tube length 13a, 13b which is not secured to thecoil may carry a pad 15, which is intended to push the hand of apassenger rested on the handrail and to remove the risk of pinching. Ifthe tube length is of plastic material, the pad can be a terminal bulgedportion integral with the tube.

Some at least of the tube lengths carry handles or handholds 16, whichagain are preferably so designed that there is no possibility to hang anobject. The handles are so located that the sliding portions of thosetube lengths which overlapthose provided with handles do not come intoabutment with the handles when the spring is in its condition of maximumcompression. If

each tube length is about 20 cm long, a handle may be located on eachtenth or twentieth tube length.

In most cases, an angular development of the tube length between 200 and300 is of advantage, since the flexibility of the handrailremainssufficient for it to be turned back at the end of the upper run. In theremainder of the angular development (between 60 and there are locatedthe guiding and driving mechanisms.

Since the guiding mechanism is quite similar to that illustrated on FIG.2, a short description thereof will be given. The mechanism includessupporting members or pads 17 carried by some at least of the turns.Each pad 17 comprises a sleeve secured to the turn and a head (notshown) which is slidably received in either of two parallel tracks 18.Since the plane of the spring changes depending upon the condition ofthe spring, the heads of the pads 17 will be designed for jamming not tooccur. This will generally lead to use a flat cylindrical shape. In mostcases, the track 18 will be rectilinear, since the handrail is straightand horizontal.

Referring to FIGS. 6 10, the driving mechanism has a progressivity whichrenders useless the friction pads of the embodiment illustrated on FIGS.1 4. This driving mechanism may be substituted to the wheels of FIGS. 2and 4 for driving the handrail of FIG. I.

The left hand portion of FIG. 6 illustrates the spring in a portion ofthe path where the speed is relatively low, while the right hand portionillustrates a portion of the spring in a zone where the speed ismaximum. The driving mechanism includes a continuous chain driven at avariable speed and which will be referred to in the following by thereference 18a. The chain consists of two sets of links, each adapted tobend resiliently while remaining in the plane of the chain (verticalplane in most cases). The links, which are illustrated as elongatedmetal blades or strips in the illustrated embodiment, constitutesuccessive lozenges which are adjacent to each other and have commonapices. The strips are bent in those portions where the speed ischanging (i.e. in those portions where the spring is being compressed orstretched), due to the transversal forces v which exert on the strips.The strips 19 19,, 19 19,, constitute a first set, while the strips 2020,, 20 20,, constitute a second set.

Two strips which belong to different sets, for instance strips 19 and 20are connected to each turn of the coil spring. The two strips arepivotally mounted on the pin 21 secured to a clamp 22 retained on theturn of spring 11. Since the chain 18 should remain in a same planethroughout its length while the angular position of a given turn changesdepending on the extent of stretch exhibited by the spring, the clampshould be connected to the spring with a clearance sufficient for it tomove angularly.

The end portions of the strips which constitute the apices opposed tothose connected to the spring are also pivotally connected on one other.As shown on FIG. 8, which illustrates the strips 20 and 19 the pivotalconnection comprises a transverse axis 23 on which the end portions ofthe strips are pivotally connected.

The axes 23 are guided in their longitudinal movement in such a way thatthe ratio between the longitudinal and transverse diagonals of thelozenges corresponds to the speed impressed to the chain by motor meanswhich will be described hereunder. For this purpose, each axis 23carries two rollers 24 retained each between one rail 25. The two railsare parallel to each other and may be provided along part only on thepath. The rails 25 have a sinuous or serpentine shape for their distanceto the track 18 to vary. If the rails 25 are located along part only ofthe path, each portion preferably has a convergent inlet for avoidingjamming.

Last, the apices of the lozenges which are located mid-way between theapices 21 and 23 consist of a pivotal connection between two stripsbelonging to differ ent sets. As shown on FIG. 9, the strips 19,, and20,, carry respective rings 27 pivotally connected to a trans verse rod26.

The chain is driven by successive pairs of wheels. Two such wheels 28are shown on FIG. 6. Each wheel is formed with peripheral notches spacedat regular intervals. Each pair of notches 29 is adapted to receive theend portions of the rod 26. Each wheel 28, 28, has a diameter, anangular interval between successive notches, and a rotational speedselected for each wheel (or rather each pair of wheels) to drive a samenumber of rods 26 per time unit. All rods may have the same rotationalspeed with different diameters. The successive pairs of wheels are sospaced that each notch successively engages a rod 26'during itsrotation, drive that rod on part of the path, then leave it.

The number of wheels will be generally a fraction of the number of rods26 which is betweenone tenth and one fiftieth.

The invention is obviously not restricted to those particularembodiments which have been described by way of examples and numerousmodifications are possible. For instance, the links may consist ofelongated rods which are flexible in all directions.-

I claim 1. A handrail comprising, in combination, a helically coiledendless elongated member, sheath means covering said coiled memberthroughout its length but on part only of its lateral surface, saidsheath means providing a relatively smooth surface, guide means forguiding said member along a closed path, and a plurality of drivingmeans distributed along said path and cooperating with following turnsof said coiled member in seriatim order, said driving means being soconstructed and arranged that all driving means pass the same number ofturns per time unit while imparting different intervals betweensuccessive turns.

2. A handrail comprising in combination:

endless helically coiled spring means,

sheath means closely supported by said spring means and covering anangular portion comprised between 200 and 300 of said spring meansthroughout the length thereof,

guiding means for said spring, including sliding members each connectedto a respective turn of said coil means and at least one stationarytrack slidably receiving all said members,

and a plurality of driving means distributed along said coil to impressdifferent speeds to said spring along the path thereof, said drivingmeans being so constructed and arranged that all driving means pass thesame number of turns per time unit while imparting different intervalsbetween successive turns.

3. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said sheath means consist ofbellows formed from a plurality of successive folds, each lateral innerportions of each said fold being connected to said coiled spring meansadjacent to the inner portion of an adjacent fold.

4. A handrail according to claim 3, wherein said elements areconstituted of rubberized canvas.

5. A handrail according to claim 3, wherein the two lateral innerportions of each element are connected to respective turns of the springmeans by fingers turned back over the turns.

6. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said sheath means consist ofpart cylindrical tube lengths having an angular development exceedingone portion of each tube length being secured to a respective turn ofthe spring means, said tube lengths being of such length and beingseparated by a number of turns so selected that there remains an overlapbetween successive tube lengths when the spring is in its condition ofmaximum stretch.

7. A handrail according to claim 6, wherein an end portion of each tubelength is secured to the spring and the opposite end portion overlapsthe next tube length and is provided with a pad.

8. A'handrail according to claim 6, wherein each tube length is formedfrom a material selected from the group consisting of plastics and.rubberized canvas.

9. A handrail according to claim 6, comprising handles carried by someat'least of the tube lengths, each handle being in such a location thatit remains at a distance from the end portion of the preceding tubelength when the spring is in its condition of maximum compression.

10. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein the driving means comprisea plurality of toothed wheels whose teeth engage turns of the coil inseriatim order, each wheel having a number of teeth, a diameter and arotational speed so selected that it delivers a number of turns which isidentical for all wheels.

11. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said driving means comprisea chain including two sets of links, each adapted to bend in the planeof the chain, the links of one set being pivotally connected to thelinks of the other set close to their end portions and close to theirmid-portion for constituting a continuous series of lozenges, an apex ofeach lozenge being connected to a respective turn of the spring meansand said apices located mid-way between the end portions cooperatingwith motor means, all said motor means being synchronized for deliveringan identical number of said apices per time unit.

12. A handrail according to claim 11, comprising means for guiding theapices of the lozenges which are opposed to those secured to the springmeans, on part at least of the path of the handrail.

13. In combination with a passenger conveyor comprising a treadway movedat a variable speed from an entrance zone to an exit zone, a handrailaccording to claim 1 located substantially parallel to said treadway,wherein said driving means impress to said helically coiled member avariable speed which is adjustable at each point at a value which isclose to the speed of the treadway at the same location along the path.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein said driving meansimpress to said handrail a speed slightly in excess of that of saidtreadway in the portions of said path where the speed is increased ordecreased. =1 l

1. A handrail comprising, in combination, a helically coiled endlesselongated member, sheath means covering said coiled member throughoutits length but on part only of its lateral surface, said sheath meansproviding a relatively smooth surface, guide means for guiding saidmember along a closed path, and a plurality of driving means distributedalong said path and cooperating with following turns of said coiledmember in seriatim order, said driving means being so constructed andarranged that all driving means pass the samE number of turns per timeunit while imparting different intervals between successive turns.
 2. Ahandrail comprising in combination: endless helically coiled springmeans, sheath means closely supported by said spring means and coveringan angular portion comprised between 200* and 300* of said spring meansthroughout the length thereof, guiding means for said spring, includingsliding members each connected to a respective turn of said coil meansand at least one stationary track slidably receiving all said members,and a plurality of driving means distributed along said coil to impressdifferent speeds to said spring along the path thereof, said drivingmeans being so constructed and arranged that all driving means pass thesame number of turns per time unit while imparting different intervalsbetween successive turns.
 3. A handrail according to claim 2, whereinsaid sheath means consist of bellows formed from a plurality ofsuccessive folds, each lateral inner portions of each said fold beingconnected to said coiled spring means adjacent to the inner portion ofan adjacent fold.
 4. A handrail according to claim 3, wherein saidelements are constituted of rubberized canvas.
 5. A handrail accordingto claim 3, wherein the two lateral inner portions of each element areconnected to respective turns of the spring means by fingers turned backover the turns.
 6. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said sheathmeans consist of part cylindrical tube lengths having an angulardevelopment exceeding 180*, one portion of each tube length beingsecured to a respective turn of the spring means, said tube lengthsbeing of such length and being separated by a number of turns soselected that there remains an overlap between successive tube lengthswhen the spring is in its condition of maximum stretch.
 7. A handrailaccording to claim 6, wherein an end portion of each tube length issecured to the spring and the opposite end portion overlaps the nexttube length and is provided with a pad.
 8. A handrail according to claim6, wherein each tube length is formed from a material selected from thegroup consisting of plastics and rubberized canvas.
 9. A handrailaccording to claim 6, comprising handles carried by some at least of thetube lengths, each handle being in such a location that it remains at adistance from the end portion of the preceding tube length when thespring is in its condition of maximum compression.
 10. A handrailaccording to claim 2, wherein the driving means comprise a plurality oftoothed wheels whose teeth engage turns of the coil in seriatim order,each wheel having a number of teeth, a diameter and a rotational speedso selected that it delivers a number of turns which is identical forall wheels.
 11. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said drivingmeans comprise a chain including two sets of links, each adapted to bendin the plane of the chain, the links of one set being pivotallyconnected to the links of the other set close to their end portions andclose to their mid-portion for constituting a continuous series oflozenges, an apex of each lozenge being connected to a respective turnof the spring means and said apices located mid-way between the endportions cooperating with motor means, all said motor means beingsynchronized for delivering an identical number of said apices per timeunit.
 12. A handrail according to claim 11, comprising means for guidingthe apices of the lozenges which are opposed to those secured to thespring means, on part at least of the path of the handrail.
 13. Incombination with a passenger conveyor comprising a treadway moved at avariable speed from an entrance zone to an exit zone, a handrailaccording to claim 1 located substantially parallel to said treadway,wherein said driving means impress to said helically coiled member avariable speed which is adjustable at each point at a value which isclose to the speed of the treadwAy at the same location along the path.14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein said driving meansimpress to said handrail a speed slightly in excess of that of saidtreadway in the portions of said path where the speed is increased ordecreased.